Gorbachev Asks Cut In European Weapons

April 19, 1986|United Press International

BERLIN — Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev proposed Friday ``a significant reduction`` in all types of conventional arms and troops in Europe but warned the U.S. attack on Libya and other American policies have damaged superpower relations.

In a speech to the East German Communist Party congress, Gorbachev said his ``serious negotiating offer`` was aimed at breaking a 13-year-long stalemate at arms talks in Vienna on reductions of conventional forces in Europe.

``The Soviet Union proposes an agreement on a significant reduction of all components of the land forces and tactical air forces of the European countries as well as the corresponding European-based forces of the United States and Canada,`` Gorbachev said.

He said his proposal covered the region ``from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains`` and included certain tactical nuclear and chemical weapons. He said the disbanding or removal of units and destruction or removal of weaponry could be monitored by on-spot international inspections.

A major stumbling block to his earlier offer of bilateral reductions in nuclear weapons in Europe has been fears by NATO allies of the superior conventional troop strength the Soviet`s maintain in Central Europe.

But in his speech, published by the official East German news agency ADN, Gorbachev said his proposal was aimed at reducing NATO fears that reductions would leave them vulnerable to superior Warsaw Pact troop strength.

``This comprehensive proposal could make possible the untieing of the knot that has gotten tighter and tighter over so many years at the Vienna conventional arms talks,`` he said.

He also said his earlier proposals on European disarmament and the dismantling of medium-range nuclear weapons remain on the negotiating table.